Equipment for shifting belt conveyor lines

ABSTRACT

A generally horizontal transverse support means has generally vertical adjustable support means connected to opposite ends thereof, these vertical support means being adjustable in a vertical direction and including wheel means at the lower ends thereof adapted to move along a supporting surface. An associated conveyor has shifter rails at the upper part thereof, and conveyor-engaging means includes antifriction rollers engageable with these shifter rails. Lateral shifting means is provided for shifting the conveyor line engaging means laterally to thereby laterally shift the associated conveyor line.

United States Patent lnventors Hans Goergen Welden/Cologne; Hans Hupp, Bruhl, Cologne, both of Germany Appl. No. 815,560 Filed Apr. 14, 1969 Patented Oct.12,1971 Assignee Elsenwerk Weserhutte A. G. Bad Oeynhause, Germany Priority Apr.l3,1968

Germany EQUIPMENT FOR SlllFllNG BELT CONVEYOR LINES 4 Clalms, 1 Drawing Big.

US. Cl 198/204, 198/126, l98/l92 lnt. CL. 865g 15/60 Field of Search 198/3, 96,

101, 12o,12o.s.111, 192,233. 126, 118,117; 214/8316. s20; 212/14; 280 432:

[56] References Cited 'UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,373,436 4/1921 Lombi 198/126 1,858,183 5/1932 Bridges.... 212/14 X 3,292,771 12/1966 Reilly 198/192 308,867 12/1884 Ayres 198/126 X Y I FOREIGN PATENTS I 239,764 7/1962 Australia 198/126 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Alfred N. Goodman V Attorney-Bryan and Butrum ABSTRACT: A generally horizontal transverse support means has generally vertical adjustable'support means connected to opposite ends thereof, these vertical support means being adjustable in a vertical direction and including wheel means at the lower ends thereof adapted to move along a supporting surface. An associated conveyor has shifter rails at the upper part thereof. and conveyor-engaging means includes antifrictionrollers engageable with these shifter rails. Lateral shifting means is provided for shifting the conveyor line engaging means laterally to thereby laterally shifl the associated conveyor line.

PATENTEUUU 1219?: 2 '2 J I 3.622.257

Q INVENTORS HANS GOERGEN 8x I HANS HUPP ATTORNEYS EQUIPMENT FOR SiiiFTiNG BELT CONVEYOR LINES BACKGROUND OF THEiNVENTlON eliminate the disadvantages of known unilaterally lifting and laterally pulling equipment for side-shifting belt conveyors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION in the present invention, transverse support means is provided which is adapted to extend above an associated conveyor and further to extend laterally on either side thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. Opposite ends of this transverse support means are supported by generally vertically extending adjustable support means which are adjustable in a vertical direction. Wheel means or the like are provided at the lower end of the adjustable support means whereby the adjustable support means may be moved along the ground or other supporting surface in a direction extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor.

Conveyor-engaging means is carried by the transverse support means and includes antifrietion roller means which are engagcable with shifter rail means connected with the upper part of the conveyor. Means is also provided for laterally shifting the conveyor engaging means.

When the conveyor-engaging means are in engagement with the shifter rails of an associated conveyor, the conveyor may be lifted in the shifting area by vertically raising the adjustable support means at the opposite ends of the transverse support means whereby the substructure of the conveyor means is raised above the surface of the ground. The lateral shifting means is operated to shift the engaged portion of the conveyor member 26.

The shifting equipment of the present invention includes a transverse support means 30 in the form ofa rigid member extending generally horizontally and perpendicular to the iongitudinal axis of the conveyor. it will be noted that in operative position, this transverse support means extends laterally on opposite sides of the conveyor. Opposite ends of that transverse support means are supported by similar adjustable support means indicated generally by reference numeral 32.- Each of the adjustable support means is adjustable in a vertical direction by means of hydraulic ram means including a cylinder 34 and a piston slidably disposed therewithin and interconnected with a piston rod 36. it is apparent that operation of the hydraulic ram means enables the adjustable support means to be raised and lowered in a vertical direction as desired.

Transversely extending axles 38 are connected with the lower ends of each of the piston rods, and wheel means or the like 40 are supported on the axle 38 to support the shifting as the equipment moves along the conveyor, the conveyor assuming a generally Sshaped configuration as will be well understood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a cross section through a conventional belt DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, a conveyor includes a flexible dless belt including an upper flight i0 and a lower flight 12, t2 upper flight being supported on troughing rollers 14, and lower flight being supported on troughing rollers 16 whereby the flexible belt is adapted to move longitudinally of the conveyor in the usual manner.

Rollers 14 are joumsled for rotation on shafts 20 secured to shifter rails 22, and rollers 16 are joumaled for rotation on shafts 24 supported by a generally U-shaped rigid support frame member 26 of the conveyor. The shifter rails 22 are secured to the upper ends of the opposite legs of U-shaped equipment on the ground surface. Suitable drive means may be interconnected with each of these wheel means whereby the shifting equipment may be moved along the ground in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor.

Conveyor-engaging means is indicated generally by reference numeral 50, a pair of such means being provided in suitably spaced relationship for engaging each of the shifter rails. Each conveyor-engaging means 50 includes antifriction rollers 52 engageable with the shifter rails to minimize the amount of friction as the shifting equipment moves along the shifter rails of the conveyor. Lateral shifting means 60 is carried by the transverse support means for shifting the conveyorengaging means 50 laterally to the desired extent for shifting the conveyor, for example, from the full line position shown in the drawing to the phantom line position as illustrated. Shifting means 60 moves in an elongated slot provided in support means 30 and includes spaced rollers 62 interconnected by a spacer member 64.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof,yand the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

I. Equipment for shifting belt conveyors comprising transverse support means, adjustable support means connected with said transverse support means for supporting said transverse support means sbove an associated conveyor, conveyor engaging means carried by said transverse support means and including anti-friction means for engaging an associated conveyor, and lateral shifting means for shifting said conveyor engaging means laterally.

2. Equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said sntifriction 

1. Equipment for shifting belt conveyors comprising transverse support means, adjustable support means connected with said transverse support means for supporting said transverse support means above an associated conveyor, conveyor engaging means carried by said transverse support means and including antifriction means for engaging an associated conveyor, and lateral shifting means for shifting said conveyor engaging means laterally.
 2. Equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said antifriction means comprises rollers.
 3. Equipment for shifting belt conveyors comprising transverse support means, adjustable support means connected with said transverse support means for supporting said transverse support means above an associated conveyor, conveyor-engaging means carried by said transverse support means, belt conveyor means having shifter rail means at the upper part thereof engageable with said conveyor-engaging means, and lateral shifting means for shifting said conveyor-engaginG means laterally.
 4. Equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said equipment extends laterally on each side of said conveyor and extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said conveyor. 